Even with the coaching change, Bra’lon Cherry is committed to playing football at N.C. State.

A little more than two weeks ago, Tom O’Brien was fired as the Wolfpack’s head coach.

Dave Doeren was since hired.

Cherry, a senior at New Bern High, plans on honoring his pledge.

“I’m still committed,” Cherry said. “I’m just going to go there and work hard and try to show myself to the coach.”

O’Brien had a record of 40-35 in six seasons at N.C. State, which included a 22-26 mark in

the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Doeren takes over after leading Northern Illinois to the Orange Bowl. He won 23 games in two seasons with the Huskies.

“I’m not too worried about the change,” Cherry said. “I talked to the new coach a couple times and he seems pretty cool.”

Cherry was recruited by special teams coach/recruiting coordinator Jerry Petercuskie, who is still on staff at N.C. State. He plans on signing his national letter-of-intent in February.

The Wolfpack plays Vanderbilt in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 31.

“I’ve talked to them (coaches),” said Cherry, who is being recruited as an athlete. “They said they are going to run a spread offense, pretty much what we are doing here (at New Bern).”

Cherry played wide receiver/defensive back for the New Bern Bears.

He caught 35 passes for 666 yards and nine touchdowns, while rushing for 111 yards and two scores.

Cherry also had four interceptions, including two for a touchdown, and a punt return for a score.

He had 89 receiving yards to help New Bern beat Porter Ridge, 39-39, in the 4A state championship game on Nov. 30 in Chapel Hill.

Cherry had three 100-yard receiving games. He caught for a season-high 121 yards against West Craven.

He had a 116 and 106-yard performance in two games against Wilmington Hoggard.

“I accomplished a lot,” said Cherry, who was named to the NCPreps All-State Team. “I played hard and tried to help us get a state championship, which we did. I was just trying to be better than I was last year.”

Adam Thompson can be reached at 252-635-5669 or at Adam.Thompson@newbernsj.com. Follow Adam on Twitter @Adam_matic.